WANcareerlife: Zimbabwe's Chikwape rescues The Sick Rose

Ngonidzashe Chikwape

The Young Christian Movement (YCM) at Phakamani High School is only a few months old but it has already positively affected the lives of its ambassadors. The YCM has been installed to come to the rescue of young women who seek to find their way back into productive life styles. It was born out of despair and apathy. Thembi Masser speaks to Ngonidzashe Chikwape about the rescue mission.

Most of the learners at this school come out of dysfunctional, loveless and parent less households devoid of love, affection and direction. The result, it seems, is lack of ambition and the will to succeed.

When Ngonidzashe Chikwape arrived at Phakamani in 2010 she marveled at the confident South African learners. She was impressed in the way they expressed themselves fluently. “I liked their ability to speak their mind and how outspoken they were,” Chikwape points out during an interview. But, to her dismay, she found out later although the learners were brazen in their outlook, they lacked respect for themselves and the person next to them. “They do not work hard enough to earn my respect as well, in the way they do their school work.” She observes that their work is shambolic and is of inferior quality.

So this year in January she established the YCM for the girls at the school. Here the girls recite a Christian pledge at the beginning of every meeting after their prayers. ‘We then give everybody a symbolic comradeship hug,” Chikwape explains. “And, as a Christian, I am their mum, their teacher and the mentor.”

The Young Christians Movement’s vision is explicit that it speaks to the making of a new, confident generation of girls and teachers who value the norms of their profession and of the society. It speaks about the involvement of teachers in the upbringing of learners, to creating relationships with those learners and to nurture them. Firstly, they aim to help needy children who have nothing to motivate them. The group found that some learners stayed away from school during their menstruation period because they did not have sanitary pads. The YCM also realized how learners neglect the school’s premises and leave them with litter. There is also the rampant, worrying question of teenage pregnancies, gangsterism and drug abuse at the school.

“We aim to help affected children as much as we can,” Chikwape says. They will also prevent the mushrooming of deviant behavior, she adds. “The girls are the movement and the ambassadors. I hope more of them will join us to grow from the present thirty.”

Chikwape (she is from the community of Masvingo) was educated in at the famed Hillside Teachers' College in Zimbabwe where she taught for a while before moving south to Etwatwa. “I appeal for help in the form of second hand clothing, sanitary pads, school equipment and such. In fact, just contact us if you are willing to help.” She is passionate about life sciences and pure math.

So, while William Blake bemoans the eminent demise of The Sick Rose, Chikwape is busy in a rescue mission to preserve the precious lives of the naive, yet talented young women.

The Young Christians tell us about their experiences with their Movement.

Mathapelo Hamedi 19 years, grade 12

For me, this year started at an all-time high- the establishment of the Young Christians Movement. The movement has helped a lot and my thoughts don't go astray anymore. we will be resourceful, raise funds and help other kids in distress. our aim is to help those in need- here at school and in the community.

But firstly, I want to study hard so that I can go to the University of Johannesburg and study law.

Nomalungelo Nsibande 19, grade 12

This is interesting. There are discussions on how to behave and how to dress appropriately when here at school and when you are in the community. We also discuss things like make up and so on. We work hard here. We knit and sew, for instance. But uppermost on my mind is to gain knowledge and proceed to be a pharmacist. The Young Christian Movement encourages young women to be on the right path-always.

Khelinah Phiri 18, grade 12

The aim of the movement is to encourage young girls to be behave well and respect others and to be educated, among other things.
I am happy, I have knitted a bag already. It is always interesting to be here. I am studying hard to be a forensic scientist. I will do this degree at TUT.

Nompumelelo Mhlana 18, grade 12

I want to know other people better, and I think the knowledge I gain during our meetings will be in good stead for me. For instance, I want to know their cultures and background. movement will help the school as a whole, not only the members. There are gangs here as well as drug addicts and I hope to help them to kick their appalling habits, that is why I applied to be a member.

Miss Chikwape is my role model, I adore and glorify her foot prints. A good educationist if you asked me. Unique

For my future, I want to be a gynecologist.

Zanele Masilela

Here we we give the less fortunate learners support, guidance and advice. We spread the good word. We are also involved in charity work. Before Miss Chikwape stepped in Phakamani was crumbling, there was no order here. But she has good leadership qualities, good education and those who follow her will reap good rewards. I think in no time we will be THE school in Ekurhuleni.

We deal with diverse issued here. Things like teenage pregnancy. My personal view is that teenagers should not indulge in sex, that activity is for the grown-ups only. I am also of the opinion that pregnant school girls should not attend school but stay at home and come back later. And parents should give their children support so that they do well at school.